The opposite of 'no-excuses'
EdWeek ran an editorial by a well intentioned former superintendent, but it illustrates the blobs view:
There will never be enough money
Not everyone goes to college. What is important is not the number of students who attend college, but the number who finish. This figure may be as low as 20 percent.
Drop outs happen.
We don’t control our destiny.
If you want to experience a culture that doesn’t buy this crap, visit a KIPP, Uncommon, Uplift, Idea, Aspire, Alliance, ICEF, PUC, Green Dot, Harlem Success, Achievement First, Village Academy school.

Tom Vander Ark
sorry, link should be fixed
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/10/14/07myres.h29.html
Jane
Here is a link to the full article: http://www.acteonline.org/ctepolicywatchblog.aspx?id=10464&blogid=3512